The Brief

PHOENIX - The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing three new waivers to expedite 36 miles of new border wall construction in Arizona and New Mexico.

What we know:

This waives environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act , so construction can move forward faster.

The Arizona projects include closing seven gaps between 40 and 240 feet in Yuma, and about 27 miles in the Tucson sector.

DHS says closing these gaps will enhance border security operations.

The other side:

The Center for Biological Diversity is responding to the decision.

"Trump is recklessly casting aside the foundational laws that protect endangered species and clean air and water to build a wildlife-killing wall through pristine wilderness," said Laiken Jordahl,

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